Abortion (up to 9 weeks pregnant)

Today, Tia provides medication abortion in New York and California. We also support our patients’ reproductive healthcare choices through education and counseling covering any and all options (including parenting, adoption, and pregnancy termination). We’re here to help give the information, care, mental health support, and coordinated referrals needed to help our patients make decisions that feel right for them.

What is a medication abortion?

Medical abortion/ medication abortion /“Abortion pill” is the common name for using two different medicines to end a pregnancy: mifepristone and misoprostol. Mifepristone is taken to block the hormone progesterone, this stops the pregnancy from growing. A second medication, misoprostol causes cramping & bleeding to empty the uterus. Medication abortion is appropriate for low risk people who are less than 9 weeks as estimated by the last menstrual period.

When to schedule an abortion appointment

If you have had a positive pregnancy test and desire a medication abortion, you can schedule this appointment at Tia.

What to expect during an abortion appointment

At Tia, this appointment can be facilitated either in-clinic or virtually. You’ll see a Tia provider for your initial consultation to discuss the process, fill out a few required forms, and answer any of your questions. After your consultation, you’ll receive medication by mail that you can take at home or wherever you feel most comfortable.

Our Care Coordination team will follow up with you via chat for the first month following your visit to ensure that everything goes smoothly and you don't have any questions or concerns.

Potential abortion treatment options

For patients who meet Tia's criteria to recieve a medication abortion, your provider will give a perscription for the two medications (mifepristone and misoprostol) plus an optional perscription for nausea meds, pain meds, pregnancy test and heating pack. Tia is able to provide medication abortion for anyone who:

• Is aged 18 and older
• A current Tia member located in California or New York
• Is less than 9 weeks pregnant
• Has no medical history or symptoms that suggest an in-person visit or a procedural abortion would a safer option
• Has a safe, secure mailing address where our pharmacy partner can ship the medications

For patients who do not meet criteria, your provider will give a referral to a preferred local abortion provider based on your needs.

For patients who need further evaluation, your provider will recommend an ultrasound at the clinic to determine eligibility followed. Based on the results of the ultrasound, your provider will either perscribe the medical abortion medications as outlined or give you a referral.

Preparing for a medication abortion at home

Decide when you want to start. Most people have no side effects with the first medication, mifepristone, and can continue their normal schedule. With the second set of medications, you should plan to be home after taking them as bleeding typically starts within a few hours and can last for up to 24 hours. Many people take the second pills on a Friday or over the weekend, but you should plan what works for you and your schedule.

What to expect after taking abortion medication

Most people will start to have cramping and bleeding within a few hours and up to 24 hours of taking the second medication, this is expected.

If you have not started bleeding 24 hours after taking the misoprostol pills, please reach out to your Tia care team. The care team will help determine next best steps. Many times, this will mean you need to take the additional misoprostol pills that came in your perscription brovided by Tia.

Symptoms and side effects of a medication abortion

While most people have no side effects from the first pill, some people experience side effects from the second pill, misoprostol, which can include:

Gastrointestinal

Symptoms may include nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting. We recommend stocking up on comfort foods. For nausea or vomiting, it’s best to stick to bland foods like crackers, bananas, and broth as well as stomach- settling & hydrating liquids like ginger ale, mint tea, sports drinks, and popsicles.

Vaginal bleeding

You can expect heavy bleeding and some blood clots. We recommend using pads to allow everything to pass, making it easier to monitor your bleeding. Make sure you have some super absorbent or overnight pads for the first few days as well as some regular and panty liner sizes for follow up.

Uterine cramping

We recommend having a heating pad and some over-the-counter pain medications like Tylenol or ibuprofen on hand.

Fatigue

Plan to wear comfortable clothing and be in a place where you can rest & recover after taking your medication. We recommend getting a good book or watching some binge-worthy TV.